Introduction: The Meaning of Weapons in Politics, Cultures, and Religions

This interdisciplinary volume explores the meaning of weapons by studying the materiality, representation, and discursive deliberation of different kinds of weapons, in cultures, religions, and beyond. We argue that weapons derive their multilayered meanings from their position in social networks that include humans, things, practices, discourses, and media. Building on earlier relational approaches within gun studies, this volume broadens previous work by (1) expanding the discussion beyond guns to focus on the broader category of ‘weapons’ that includes firearms but also other types of weapons (such as shields, drones, and spiritual weapons), and (2) emphasizing the role of weapons in religious traditions and the spiritual powers that may be assigned to weapons. Finally, (3), while much valuable scholarship within gun studies focuses on the U.S., our volume aims to broaden discussions on weapons by focusing on various geographical contexts across the globe. In this way, the volume aims to develop new entry points to study weapons and their meanings in different religious, cultural, and ideological settings.